Improve the socioeconomic condition and livelihoods of 1.1 million people living in poverty in the hard-to-reach areas by 2020.

Pockets of extreme poverty are particularly prevalent in the hard-to-reach regions, where often entire communities lack access to basic services and economic opportunities. A single programme intervention cannot solve these challenges. Limited connectivity not only restricts people’s mobility and their livelihood options, but also their access to essential services.

Taking a specially integrated approach in the poverty pockets of wetlands (haor), riverine islands (char), indigenous populations in north-western Bangladesh and vibrant community living around the gas field in greater Sylhet region, providing multifaceted support through a single platform that includes education, healthcare, sustainable livelihood and activities that promote women’s empowerment.

IMPACT

household participation ensured through village development organisation

participants lifted from ultra poverty

of households involved with income-generating activities

Whatever we do, our sustainable growth will be challenged due to climate change-related issues. Our government can replicated BRAC’s integrated development plan to tackle the impacts of climate changes in haor region.

Anisul Islam Mahmud MP

Former Minister of Water Resource Ministry, GoB

The concept of integrated development is very effective for hard-to-reach areas. Since I visited some of the IDP covered area and observed their interventions and innovations. I found this ‘holistic’ model have that much ability to make significant positive changes in those remote areas. I also personally believe it will also be a learning material of our government to take longer initiative of development in the context of haor.

Mujibur Rahman

Director General, Department of Bangladesh Haor and Wetlands Development

BRAC IDP is working in the sub-district of Nawabganj in the district of Dinajpur. There are around 3,000 indigenous families here. We are working with BRAC to develop their livelihood, ensure education, and integrate them into the mainstream development process.

Md. Bajlur Rashid

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Nawabganj, Dinajpur

This char was a dessert of Nole Grass (long grass) and sands at that time, nothing was here to eat. We started to cultivate the land for food such as rice, nuts, chili, beans etc. Land was flat and we made house with straw of grass. Peoples who lost their home due to river erosion started to settle here with the deep fear of local gangs. But very soon, BRAC-IDP came here to work and we started to see our hope.

Kulsum Bibi

VO member, Hatiya, Noakhali

My determination to lift myself out of extreme poverty to a stable financial position. With the support from BRAC and my courage, I became a successful entrepreneur and ‍owner of a grocery and vegetable shop that locally called ‘Bou Bazar’ (Bride Market)

Joy Tara

VDO member, Baniachong Sadar, Hobiganj

WHAT WE DO

Intervention in wetlands (haor)

Improve socioeconomic conditions of 1 million people living in poverty in the haor basin by 2020

Intervention in riverine islands (char)

Delivering essential services to support poverty reduction and preparedness on climate resilience